With apps and emails at our fingertips to keep us abreast of the latest deals, it’s easy to catch a sale and save a few bucks. Savvy shoppers will also rack up at the end of a season or during the off-season period when retailers are trying to clear out inventory.

But have you ever thought about using one of those strategies to go Christmas shopping? We’re talking about buying winter clothes in February or sneakers in April. You know how crowded the stores are after Thanksgiving, and you know how fast Amazon will sell out of the hottest toys during the Christmas season, so why not do things differently?

By differently, we mean shopping year-round for Christmas goodies! While stores are unloading, you can be loading up early without going broke. And you can avoid the shopping madness that takes over in December. Let’s talk about the benefits of grabbing gifts throughout the year.

For starters, you can avoid stress and bad gifts. How many times have you waited until the last minute to get a gift, and end up giving a gift card or weird knickknack? Gift cards aren’t bad, but they can be a shortcut when you don’t want to fight holiday traffic or crowds. Shop early and get a wrap-worthy gift for your crew.

You won’t have to deal with unruly crowds, parking lot mania, or empty shelves. It will be easier to get something for everyone on your list without breaking a sweat or biting your nails off.

There’s also the fact that you can find sales 365 days a year if you know how to look. June and July are great for picking up gifts for the men in your life. Father’s Day sales are a good time to stock up, and electronics and gadgets tend to be marked down in midsummer.

These days, you can even find Christmas in July sales with big names like Target, Amazon, and Wal-Mart. Competitors will often hop on the bandwagon and drop prices on everything. When Amazon has their annual “Prime Day” event, you are sure to find discounts at stores like Macy’s, Kohl’s, and everywhere else. It’s an excellent time to buy tech, beauty, and clothing items.

NerdWallet rounded up their own list of which months are the best for buying certain products. They suggest January or February for TVs as Super Bowl season is winding down and April as the best time to snag jewelry when consumer demand is low. Spring is also ripe for outdoor items like grills.

If you’re in the market for a laptop, they advise watching out for back-to-school sales in August. It’s also a good time to shop for home goods as stores set up sales for college-bound students. Think small appliances, housewares, and décor. Need denim for someone? Wait until October to score on jeans!

Elle magazine shared some wise advice from a fashion blogger who says that when going Christmas shopping, you should do it alone. There are plenty of opportunities to do that during the year before the big rush hits. You’ve got your lunch break, evenings before dinner, or weekend mornings before the fam wakes up.

Take advantage of that alone time to stop by the store or order online without extra eyes watching you. It’ll also be easier to hide gifts from the kids because they won’t be expecting you to buy their stuff in the middle of May.

With all the time and money you’ll save by shopping during the year, you’ll be free to hang out and party, bake, and enjoy some down time while everyone else is trying to navigate the holiday crunch.

Enjoy and don’t forget to buy clothes and accessories in the off-season. Now, what can you buy this month?

Are you already hip to this holiday shopping plan? If not, will you think about adjusting your strategy? How much of your holiday shopping have you gotten done already?

Sources:
Big Commerce
CheatSheet